Scaffold structure and the like



M G. w. CAusEY SCAFFOLD STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE Filed June 2, 1944 .(NVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED! PATENT OFFICE" 2,397,241 I SCAFFOLDrSTRUCTURE AND L'rns LIKE Gorgevwiicausey, Pittsburghfla. 7

Application: June 2, 1944; S8li2Ll7NO.538417.6

4 Claims (01. 304-3) My present invention relates'to structural erec tions which, while'they maybe-used with advantagein" the erection of permanent structures, are- The structuralelements to "which my' present invention relates are those which are of what may be; termed ladder like' charactercomprising a pair of longitudinalmembers/formed of suitable metal andpreferably tubulan'and' said members at spaced intervals "are permanently and rigidly connected by cross struts, which also preferably are lengths of metartubes weld'edcr otherwise permanently'attachedat their ends to'thelongitudinal members-thet-crossstruts" being ofthe proper lengthtorholdi the-longitudinal members permanently 'in their desired spaced relation.

In the art of scaffoldingand the like suchlada der-like elements" are; employed as the uprights; such as 'the' corner posts or supports of the structureyand cross braces'areemp-loyed having their oppositeends connected to the longitudinal mem bers of the posts'or'other supports.

'Where two ladder-like postsmositioned'opposite each otherbutin paral1el=planes, are to be'connected byJcross braces the ends of the=latterare provided with holeswhichfit over threaded studs extendinginwardly'fromj the-sides of the longitudinal members-of the posts, and nutsare then screwed-omthe studs to -clamp the ends of the braces-in place, as'is shown-in Patent- No. 220L608, issuedtojmeM'ay 21, 1940.

However" that" manner of attaching the ends of the interconnecting bracesin the case' of paral= lel postsdisposed in the same plane isnot entirely satisfactory as the'studs would be exposed-and thus subject-todamage in assemblage and-disassemblage, and would interfere with safe handling andstorage-y I r One of"the-principalobjectsof the present in-' vention is to provide *more convenient and satisfactory-means-for attaching the ends of cross braces connecting parallel la'doler'--like posts disposed in thesame-planaandthis object I accomplish by the provision of-the novelbrackethereinafter described.

Another object which-I have in view isthe improvement of I ladder-like posts "for the purposes above 'referred to. 'Such posts, especially in the case of large structures such asscafiol'ds of great height; or in the-case of scaffolds used for. the

support of heavy loads'such as sto-ne,'brick; him her; or otherbuildin'g material, must be sufficient ly strong and rigid to serve the desired 'purpose and provide the requisite marginof' safety.

This object I accomplish by providing in addition to the straight cross'strutst'of' the ladder-like posts or'supports, an'additional' cross sstrutassociated with one or more of the straight ones, such additional cross struts being curved'longitudinally with their convexity disposed toward" the associ= ated' straight strut but spaced somewhattherefrom.

To provide means for attaching the ends of cross braces for connecting such posts "or supports when disposed in the same plane, I provide a bracket connecting intermediate portions, preferably the centers, ofthe pair of associated struts, to which bracket the end of the'b-race or the ends "of the braces are bolted. V

Another object which I have'in view is the provision of a new and improved structural element unit which may be employed either to undersupport a ladder-like poster a series of longitudinally aligned and inter-connected plurality of the same, or toact as a crown'eleinent thereof.

Therefore I have invented the structural unit hereinafter described which is designed for the two purposes above referred to.-

Other objects and novel features in the construction and arrangement of structural elements and units' will ear" from the following de scription. I v

In' the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated practical embodiments of the principlesof myinvention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing two vertically disposed postsor supports, disposed in parallelism.

and inthe same vertical plane, connected together and stayed by means of my improved brackets and cross'br'aces'attached thereto;

Fig.2 is an enlarged detail in elevation showing a portion of one of the posts, illustrating more clearly'thebracke't and the end of the cross brace bolted thereto. U

Fig; 3 is a viev'v'similar'to Fig. 2 but showing the modified post structure.

'Fig; 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the dotted line 5- -4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. '4 but showing a modifie'd'form of the bracket;

Fig; 6 is-"a similar sectional-view taken along the dottedline56 in Fi 3. v a k t Fig. 7 is an elevation showing mydmpro'ved unit element which is arranged to be employed either as an undersupport for a scaffold post or as a crown element, and in this view. is shown as an undersupport; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the unit reversed to be used as a crown element.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawing, I indicates two of the ladder-like posts or supports, each comprising the two parallel longitudinal members II connected together at intervals by the cross-struts I2. Both the longitudinal members and the cross-struts, are preferably formed of tubular metal, the ends of the crosslegs straddle the tubular cross-struts I2 and are permanentl attached thereto, as by welding and extend at right angles therefrom, and are pr0- vided with registering bolt holes. The bridge portion connecting 7 legs hold the latter in permanent spaced relation. 7 v

As shown assembled in Fig. 1, two of the posts II) are vertically disposed in spaced relation and in th same vertical plane.

I5 represents the cross braces which prefer- I ably are lengths of metal tubing having their end portions flattened as best shown at I6 in Fig. .4, the flattened ends being provided with belt holes. These braces are mounted preferably in pairs be-.

which is of improved strength and rigidityand that it may be readily assembled and distween the posts I0 in X or crossed relation as I shown, and the crossed braces may be connected together at their centers as by bolt I'I.

The flattened ends I6 of the cross braces bear insurface engagement with the outer surface of in the bracket, so that the bolt I8 extend-s through all three holes and the nut is tightened one leg of each of the brackets I4, with the holes 'in the end of the braces registering with the holes thereon, thus clamping the ends of i the cross 7 braces to the posts Ill. 7

Where the cross braces are arranged in X-form,

one of the braces is positioned at the rear of the posts and the other at the front thereof so that they: will have mutual clearance at their point ofintersection. r I

It is obvious that when the posts are thus cross-connected they will be held rigidly in their positions in spaced relation to each other.

The two assembled and interbraced posts iii, shown in Fig.1, would form an end vorsiele of a complete scaffold. it being understood, as clearly illustrated and described in my saidPatent No.

2,201.608, that additional pairs of posts in a parallel plane are provided to complete a scaffold or a section thereof and the corresponding posts" in the two planes are connected by means of similar cros braces whose perforated ends engage the threaded studs I9 yveldedzto longitudinal members IIof the posts, such studs prefer ably extending inwardly fromthe longitudinal members to protect them from damage. Nuts are screwed up on studs against theends of the cross braces to clamp them in position, as better 7 shown in said patent. i It is obvious that thi feature of my present;

invention provides an assembled structure assembled, as may be required. I r

In Fig. 5 I illustrate atl la a modified form of the bracket formed of a flat strip of metal bent into substantially U-shape to provide parallel spaced apart legs and a central bridge portion of arcuate form to fit about the cross-strut l 2 and to be welded or otherwise permanently attached thereto. The parallel legs of the bracket extend at right angles to the cross-strut and are provided with registering holes for the attachment of the flattened end of thebrace I 5 to the bracket by the bolt I8.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 6, a modified and reinforced ladder-like post or support structure is therein providedltogether with a modified form of the bracket.

Thus the post Illa show the longitudinal members II connected by the cross-struts I2 like those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and also by the arched cross struts 20 whose nd are likewise permanently and rigidly attached to the longitudinal members a by welding.

One of these struts 20 preferably is positioned.

adjacent to each strut I2 with its convexity in the'direction of the latter but spaced somewhat therefrom.

2| represents centers to span the space between the struts by means of its parallel walls. The ends of the plate are welded together at 22, and the curved extremities of the bracket are welded to the surfaces of the struts which they embrace.

The parallel spaced intermediate wallso-fthe bracket, which spanthe space between the struts, are provided with registering bolt holesand the flattened end of the cross brace l5 bears against the exterior surface ofsaid intermediate walls, as shown in Fig. 4, and the bolt 23 extends through the bolt hole in the flattened end l6 of the brace l 5 and'th'rough the registeringholes in the bracket 2!, and a nut is tightened up onthe 'bolt. It is obvious that the modified form of. ladder like post or support is of increased strength andrigidity, and is especially usefulwhere considerable burdens are to. be supported, and that my improved connection to the posts of the cross. 7 braces greatly adds to the rigidity and strength of the assembled scaifold or other structure..

Referring now toFigs. '7 and 8, 24 indicates,

the unit which maybe employed when disposed as in ,Fig. 7 as an undersupport for a ladder-like post or support, or, when reversed into therposie tion shown in- Fig. 8 ,'the unit may be used as-a crown member for the post, as for instance for theconnection to the latter of a superstructure element, such as a platform, floor or roofstruce ture.

The structure of this unit 24is somewhat simi-. lar in principle to that of the. ladder-like posts I i) and Illa, except that at one'end, the lower f end in- Fig. 7 and thevupper end in Fig. 8, the longitudinal members 26 are caused to converge V as at 21 and are weldedto, eitherside of an axial tubular stem 28 which near its outer end-is sup ported from the longitudinal members by the short strut sections 29 welded in place, and again at intervals the strut sections 30' and the strut st-welded in place to brace the stem '28 in position relative to the longitudinal members 26.

Thestem 28 is formed of tubular metal so that a bracket formed of a piece of flat 7 metal plate which is bent to engage the outer v surfaces of each of the struts. I2 and 2Il'at their there may be inserted therein the threaded shaft 32 of the footing member 33 and is provided with an extended base to engage the ground. 34 is a nut screwed on said shaft and upon which the lower end of the tubular stem 28 rests. By adjusting the nut 34 on the shaft 32 the elevation of the unit may be easily regulated.

It is evident that when the unit 24 is disposed as shown in Fig. 7, other structural units or elements may be mounted on the unit by pin and socket connection with the upper portion of the longitudinal members 26.

Again, when the unit 24 is reversed into its position shown in Fig. 8 the members 26 may be mounted on the two footing members 33 while superimposed units may be attached to the upper end of the unit 24 for their support by pin and socket connection with the upper end of the stem 28.

I claim:

1. A bracket for connecting up a structural element, such as a vertical support comprising a pair of longitudinal members and cross-struts rigidly connecting said members in spaced relation, two of said cross-struts being adjacent each other and one of said struts being arcuate with its convexity approaching the other strut, said bracket comprising parallel legs connecting arcuate end portions which latter fit about the adjacent struts and are permanently attached thereto as by welding, the parallel legs spanning the space between the adjacent struts and being provided with registering bolt holes for the attachment of another structural element.

2. In scaiiolding and the like, a bracket for attaching a cross brace to a support member comprising spaced tubular portions, said bracket formed of plate metal having end bridge portions, arranged to encircle adjacent tubular portions of the support and be permanently fixed thereto as by welding, and parallel leg portions integral with the bridge portions and connecting the same, the leg portions being provided with registering holes to receive a bolt securing the brace to the bracket.

3. In scaffolding and the like, means for attaching a cross brace to a support member which is formed of spaced parallel longitudinal members connected together at intervals by rigid cross-struts, said brace extending parallel to the plane of said support, said means formed of plate metal and comprising an arcuate intermediate portion encircling one of said cross-struts and permanently. attached to the latter as by welding and a pair of straight leg members spaced apart and extending parallel to the plane of the support, said leg members being provided with registering holes to receive a bolt extending through said holes and through a hole in the end of the brace to clamp the latter against an outer surface of one of the leg members.

4. In scaffolding and the like, means for attaching a cross brace to a support member which is formed of spaced parallel longitudinal members connected together at intervals by rigid cross struts, said brace extending parallel to the plane of said support, said means formed of plate metal and comprising a pair of straight parallel leg portions connected at their ends by a bridge portion, said means being permanently attached as by welding to a cross strut of the support and said leg portions being spaced apart and extending parallel to the plane of the support member, said leg portions being provided with registering holes to receive a bolt extending through said holes and through a hole in the end of the brace to clamp the latter to the outer surface of one of the leg portions.

GEORGE W. CAUSEY. 

